09/06/2017 (Agence Europe) – The president of the Catalan government, Carles Puigdemont, announced on Friday 9 June that a referendum on self-determination for Catalonia will be held on Sunday 1 October 2017. The referendum question is clear: ‘Do you want Catalonia to be an independent state in the form of a republic?’ Puigdemont stressed that the referendum result would provide a ‘mandate’ that he would pledge to apply. The announcement is very badly perceived in Madrid, which says that the referendum shall not take place. Former president of the Parliament of Catalonia Artur Mas was found guilty in March 2017 of holding consultations on independence, which is ruled unlawful by the Spanish justice system (see EUROPE 11398). (PH)